Q Acoustics M40

Introduction

I am a longstanding admirer of the Q Acoustics loudspeaker, not least because I recall the Concept 500, reviewed nearly seven and a half years ago, being exquisitely made. That has always stayed with me, particularly the split veneer/piano gloss finish that characterised the cabinet design.

Notwithstanding the build, the loudspeakers felt particularly open at the time, though fiddly to set up. I probably have better amplification available to me now. However, these M40s are powered, so the power amplifier is getting a well-earned rest for now.

Design

The Q Acoustics M40 is described as a compact micro tower about 70 cm tall. They are powered but not active, meaning one of the loudspeakers is amplified, driving the second passive loudspeaker via a speaker cable. They feature a 2-way reflex (ported) design, with each loudspeaker having two mid/bass units (125mm) and a treble unit (22 mm).

The claimed frequency response (-6dB) is 38 Hz – 22 kHz, with the crossover frequency set at 2.5 kHz. The drivers are hurried by two 100W/ch (peak) built-in Class D amplifiers with 50W RMS (roughly average usage). The amplified loudspeaker can be set as left or right at the rear and needs to be plugged into the wall; the enclosed loudspeaker cable drives the passive speaker.

The main amplified loudspeaker has a mono subwoofer output. It also has a switch at the rear to set the loudspeaker as left or right and a separate switch to adjust the DSP (digital signal processing) to its location in the room, be that in a corner, by a wall, or in the open.

The Q Acoustics M40 can receive inputs from Bluetooth (all of aptX, aptX HD (offering 24-bit, 48kHz), aptX Low Latency, SBC, AAC), Optical S/PDIF, and USB B from a laptop or other device (both processing up to 24-bit, 192kHz). Handily, there is a 3.5mm Aux input as well at the rear for other portable devices. There is a single pair of RCA inputs for analogue sources, such as a turntable, streamer, etc.

Note there is no digital Coax input, HDMI ARC, or WiFi for possible network sharing or streaming.

The drivers have Q Acoustics’ Continuous Curved Cone design in the mid/bass driver, which they claim offers;

smooth, nuanced tweeter integration and extremely capable, but controlled bass

The proprietary Point to Point internal bracing from the higher-end models keeps the speaker cabinet as rigid and inert as possible. The built-in (non-removable) grille complements this design concept by disrupting sound dispersion patterns, adding to performance.

Quality

As with the aforementioned flagship Concept 500s, the finish on these Q Acoustics M40s is very accurate, with nothing out of place.

Out of the box, a small amount of assembly is required to fit some rear feet or stabilisers to the slim cabinet. This is a very simple process with the Allen keys provided. Linking the two loudspeakers is a simple process with the thick loudspeaker cable provided. Though I was sent a pair of QED Performance XT25 loudspeaker cables, I’m not sure that’s a necessary upgrade.

Specification and Price

Performance

Review Equipment

Regarding review equipment, there’s not much to add. I started by hooking the M40s up to the Melco library setup to loosen them up. The Auralic ARIES transport is the source for this (a bit over the top, but still). After this, the loudspeakers were placed with the lounge TV via the optical output, replacing the generic matching TV soundbar.

Physically

These M40s could not be easier to set up, in truth. Just plug in the single amplified one to the wall and trail the provided cable to the second. I gave them a run-in for a while with analogue input from an Eversolo DMP A6 in fixed output.

The remote control is excellent and very responsive. It does all the required functions, including mute, source selection, volume, etc.

Everyday

The loudspeakers perform well in Bluetooth mode, and I’ve had no connectivity issues at all with my Google Pixel 8 Pro smartphone.

RCA input is better (lighter, seemingly) from the brilliant Eversolo DMP A6, where the loudspeakers start to really sing and the user experience is much improved. Eversolo is so easy to use and access. There is plenty of detail here, too, with a wide, meaty bass line belying the apparently modest 38Hz low-end response quoted.

Moving the M40s into our living space, I felt no need for my REL T/zero subwoofer here with favourite albums, notably Ryan Adams’ Gold (Qobuz 24-bit, 96kHz), bouncing along nicely. These loudspeakers feel very musical indeed, and they have a great energy. As commented below, the bass response does tend to be a little thick at times (Joss Stone’s Snakes and Ladders), the DSP switch adjustment helps well here by moving it to the corner setting, taking a few dBs out of the low end. Incidentally, Joss Stone’s vocal here is very clean.

TV soundbar

However, as a TV soundbar replacement, the M40 is a killer. Yes, I accept our generic LG soundbar is terrible, but the uplift in performance is terrific from the same optical input.  Giving The Dark Knight in HD a look was incredibly immersive; there is breadth and depth here.  The hospital scene where The Joker blows the whole thing up becomes incredibly intense. The Bruce Wayne car crash just before it was so detailed made me jolt. If you’re after the full cinema effect, you might want a subwoofer in here, but I was more than engaged with the M40s in full flow. I suspect a sub might tighten up the bass response, which was getting a bit carried away here at times; fiddling with the DSP setting at the rear improved matters to a certain extent.

Even the snooker on the TV sounds better, with the tension in the audience palpable with a proper sound system. It was quite eye-opening to hear how much noise there is in the auditorium—I thought snooker was a fairly silent pastime!

The only slight (first world) issue with the M40s as a sound solution is that they don’t automatically turn on with your TV, HDMI eARC would fix this. For me, this is no big deal, but for other family members, these things are not so well understood.

Thoughts

For audiophiles who are not into surround-sound TV solutions, maybe in a more formal room, these loudspeakers offer a solid compromise if you have either no HiFi solution in the room or your main stereo system is offset from the TV, like mine. These loudspeakers are discrete enough to get away with, in my view.

Otherwise, everyday listening is a breeze with these loudspeakers, capable of projecting into any listening space. At this price point, the lack of a streaming solution is not available and not so critical in the era of WiiM. The Eversolo has been a formidable, easy-to-use solution in our living area for several weeks.

Overall

These Q Acoustics M40s are soundbar killers, in my view. They are really nicely made and exude quality. The detail, midrange vocal vibrancy, and adjustable bass response stand out.